April 30
Reading:
James was one of the Twelve, like his brother John
(celebrated on Sept. 26), whom the Lord called "Sons of Thunder,"
because they became great preachers and because of their profound
theology. It was the Saint's boldness in preaching the Gospel that Herod
Agrippa, the son of Aristobulus and grandson of Herod the Great, could
not endure, and so he took him into custody during the days of the
Passover, and slew him with the sword (Acts 12: 1-2); and thus he drank
the cup of which the Saviour had spoken to him prophetically (Matt.
20:23). As for Herod, the following year he went down to Caesarea, and,
as the Acts of the Apostles records: "Upon a set day, Herod, arrayed in
royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration" to the elders
of Tyre and Sidon; and the flatterers that surrounded him "gave a shout,
saying, 'it is the voice of a god, and not of a man.' And immediately
an Angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory; and
like his grandfather (see Dec. 29) "he was eaten of worms and gave up
the spirit" (Acts 12:21-23)
Apolytikion in the Third Tone
O Holy Apostle James, intercede to our merciful God, that He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.
Kontakion in the Second Tone
The voice of thy God thou heardest when it called to thee, O
glorious James; hence, casting off thy father's love, thou together with
John thy brother didst run straightway to Christ the Lord, and with him
was granted to see the Lord's most divine Transfiguration.
SOURCE:
SAINT OR FEAST POSTED THIS DATE 2010(with 2009's link here also and further, 2008's, even 2007!
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